Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of peri-operative dexmedetomidine on the incidence of postoperative delirium in cardiac and non-cardiac surgical patients: a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Delirium occurs commonly following major non-cardiac and cardiac surgery and is associated with: postoperative mortality; postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction; increased length of hospital stay; and major postoperative complications and morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peri-operative administration of dexmedetomidine on the incidence of postoperative delirium in non-cardiac and cardiac surgical patients. In this randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial we included 63 patients aged ≥ 60 years undergoing major open abdominal surgery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. ⋯ Severity of delirium, screened with the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, was comparable in both groups, with a mean maximum score of 1.54 vs. 1.68, p = 0.767. No patients in the dexmedetomidine group died while five (15.6%) patients in the placebo group died, p = 0.029. For patients aged ≥ 60 years undergoing major cardiac or non-cardiac surgery, we conclude that the peri-operative administration of dexmedetomidine is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative delirium.
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Major complications associated with airway management are rare but often have serious consequences. Complications frequently result from failures in communication and teamwork. We performed a systematic review on the effect of simulation-based team training on patient outcomes, healthcare professionals' clinical performance and preparedness for airway management. ⋯ To describe preparedness for airway management, we used outcomes related to participants' attitudes or perceptions and outcomes related to knowledge or skills demonstrated in a test setting (Kirkpatrick level 2). Most studies reporting these outcomes were in favour of simulation-based team training, but were prone to bias. We consider the current evidence to be weak and recommend that future research should be based on randomised study designs and patient-centred outcomes.
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Observational Study
Anaemia among intensive care unit survivors and association with days alive and at home: an observational study.
Anaemia is highly prevalent at the time of intensive care unit discharge and is persistent for a high proportion of intensive care unit survivors. Whether anaemia is a driver of impaired recovery after critical illness is uncertain. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that, in adult intensive care survivors, anaemia at the time of intensive care unit discharge independently predicts decreased days at home-90. ⋯ The association followed a severity-response relationship with more severe anaemia predicting lower days at home-90. When accounting for prespecified covariates including admission haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell transfusion, anaemia at intensive care unit discharge remained a significant predictor of decreased days at home-90, relative risk 0.96 (0.93-0.98), p < 0.002. These findings support the need for interventional trials investigating whether this risk is modifiable.
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Evidence suggests that healthcare professionals are at an increased risk of dying by suicide, with anaesthetists at particularly high risk. However, much of the data on which this is based are historical. With a focus on the epidemiology and methods used, we conducted a systematic review of evidence regarding suicide and suicidal behaviour among anaesthetists to provide a more contemporary summary. ⋯ Eleven studies that included information on suicidal behaviour reported suicidal ideation in 3.2-25% of individuals (six studies) and suicide attempts in 0.5-2% (four studies). Studies reporting methods of suicide highlighted the use of anaesthetic drugs, particularly propofol, supporting the suggestion that the increased risk of suicide in anaesthetists may be related to the availability of the means. We discuss our findings in relation to other recently published data and guidance concerning mental health problems in anaesthetists.